Milan Luthria has revealed that he was obsessed with getting Vidya Balan to star in The Dirty Picture.

Balan plays tragic South Indian actress Silk Smitha, who made her name in controversial 1980s films.

Luthria told The Times of India: "I was obsessed with the idea of having Vidya Balan in the lead role. When I met her, I was assured that I have made the right choice. Not only is she a great actress, she has a unique sex appeal.

"And I was looking for this combination in my leading lady. Vidya Balan has the voluptuousness of actresses like Sridevi and Vyjayanthimala, which we don't see in the present lot."

Luthria added: "I told Vidya that it was more my responsibility than hers to ensure that her performance comes out beautifully. It didn't matter whether she looked raunchy; she had to look erotic and sensual."

Balan reportedly suffered exhaustion on the set of The Dirty Picture because of the demanding production schedule.

She has since described her role in the film as the "toughest" of her career.

The Dhoom 3 star will support the organisation's work in promoting children's rights and nutrition, as half of all children in India are malnourished.

Khan said: "I am honoured to formalise my association with UNICEF as their Ambassador to help raise awareness on the issue of malnutrition amongst children.

"I realise there is a lot to be done and I hope that by lending my voice I can make a difference to the lives of children and hereby to the future of our country. Partnering with UNICEF will enable me to advocate for the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalised children in India."

UNICEF representative Karin Hulshof welcomed the appointment.

"We know Aamir Khan as a leading star of Indian cinema," she said. "He is also a compelling advocate, with an enormous drive and commitment, to transform and improve the situation of children in the country."

Veena Malik appeared nude on the cover of FHM magazine with an ‘ISI’ tattoo on her arm, but has been forced to deny it after it sparked outrage among conservatives in Pakistan - both for her nudity and the reference to the country’s intelligence agency.

The controversial photo appears on the December issue of the magazine.

The image, which was revealed on FHM India’s website, Facebook page and Twitter account simultaneously, shows her nude with her arms and one leg positioned to cover her breasts and pubic area.

On her arm are emblazoned the initials ''ISI'' - the acronym for Pakistan''s feared Inter-Services Intelligence agency - with the tag line, ‘hand in the end of the world too?’

But Malik has denied posing for the lads’ mag and insists that the photo is morphed.

“I have never posed nude. I have never done anything like that ever,” the Daily Mail quoted her as saying.

“My manager and legal team is looking into the matter. We will take legal action against them,” she added.

FHM India’s editor, Kabeer Sharma, said that nothing had been doctored, and that the magazine could prove the photo’s authenticity.

“We have video footage of the shoot as well as emails from Veena about how she’s looking forward to the cover,” BBC quoted him as saying.

Sharma said the reference to Pakistani intelligence was meant to be light-hearted, saying: “In India we joke about this... if anything goes wrong... we say the ISI must be behind this.”

"The Dirty Picture", which features Vidya Balan in her boldest avatar ever, has been banned in Pakistan for being too explicit, but Girish Johar of production house Balaji Motion Pictures feels it didn't deserve such treatment.

"The film, to be released Friday, was rejected by them (Pakistan)," head of acquisition and distribution at Balaji Motion Pictures, told IANS.

"The Dirty Picture", which has got an A-certificate from the censor board, was due to release across over 50 screens in Pakistan.

According to Johar, the reason behind the ban was the "too explicit and bold" content of the movie, which also features Emraan Hashmi, Tusshar Kapoor and veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah.

Despite Vidya's skin show and titillating portrayal of a 1980s' dancing star, Johar says the film didn't deserve to be banned.

LOS ANGELES: Lady Gaga made her music video directorial debut with a 14-minute production which was met on Friday with a mix of weariness and adulation by fans and pop culture watchers.

"Marry the Night" -- the fifth single from her "Born This Way" album -- sees the Grammy-winning performance artist making a trip to the hospital, dying her hair mint green, throwing Cheerios over her naked body and hanging upside down in a car -- all in the eight minutes before the song comes in.

Gaga, 25, told E! News that the surreal video, released on Thursday, was a portrait of the day she thought she saw her dreams slipping away from her when she was dropped from her first record label.

It was, she said, "one of the worst days in my life," but added that parts of the video were "meant to be comical."

People magazine called the video "an enigma" and said the autobiographical clip will "certainly leave fans talking, if not scratching their heads."

"AMAZING. Not just a pop singer, she's an artist," wrote Danny on the E! online message boards.

But others were clearly beginning to tire of the outrageous pop star and wondered whether Gaga was losing her touch.

"She has gone from bold to being an exhibitionist. You can't help but wonder if she has gone from a normal person to actually believing she is the persona. Poor girl," wrote Marko on the E! online board.

But Michael Gragg, writing for Britain's Guardian newspaper website, liked the fact that Lady Gaga was "embracing the ridiculous."

"Superstars are at their best when they're simultaneously aware and unaware of their own ridiculousness, and that's what 'Marry the Night' delivers for Lady Gaga. Oh, and the song's pretty good too," Gragg wrote on Friday.

Despite widespread publicity for the music video, and a performance by Lady Gaga of the new song on a Grammy nominations concert on U.S. television on Wednesday, "Marry the Night" has so far failed to catch fire.

On Friday, the song was in 38th place on the U.S. iTunes singles charts.

"I think she needs to do more editing of her creative ideas and songs ... If she gets too difficult to relate to she'll lose her fans by losing sight of the reasons they love her: fantasy, escape and her ideas about relationships, love and hard work," wrote Dragnfly on the People.com comments page. (Reuters)

Pakistani actress Veena Malik, known for enraging conservative sections of the Pakistani society following her participation in the Indian reality tv show Bigg Boss 4, has bared it all for the men's international lifestyle magazine, FHM (For Him Magazine).

Malik has done a strip photo shoot for FHM India and even tattooed her arms with 'ISI'- Pakistan's notorious intelligence agency known for its close ties with terror organizations. The issue also has Malik talking about controversial topics like veil in Muslim societies.

Veena Malik, a Pakistani actress, model and comedienne, shot to fame in India when she entered the Indian reality tv show Bigg Boss season four 2010. The actress, who cosied up with male contestants on the show and flaunted her curves unabashedly, drew sharp condemnation and criticism from Muslim clerics and conservative media in Pakistan.

After returning to her country, she engaged in a fierce debate with a Muslim cleric, who decreed that Malik had displayed "immoral behaviour" as a contestant on Bigg Boss. In her defence, Malik said that she was an artist and she wore the same clothes and behaved in the same fashion back home. She snubbed the cleric by giving him a taste of his own orthodox medicine. She asked him if he had not violated the Islamic law by watching a strange woman (Malik in the Bigg Boss show) more than once.

Malik, soon received a threatening letter by Maulana Masood, a terrorist leader known for his connections with Osama bin Laden. The letter accused her of humiliating Islam and Pakistan's name during her stay in the Bigg Boss' house.

Before entering Bigg Boss, Malik had established herself as a leading actress in Urdu cinema in Pakistan. She also worked with news and entertainment channels.

Malik is known for her various social and liberal causes. She is also a representative of the World Health Organization.

The news about Veena Malik's strip off photo shoot has gone viral on the web and among her Pakistani fans and critics.

First: a disclaimer. If cheesy one-liners, ample cleavage displays and orgasms - fake or otherwise - make you uncomfortable then stay away from this film.

‘The Dirty Picture’ not only thrives on these traits but literally celebrates them like never before in its 144 minutes of unabashed, in-your-face entertainment, entertainment and entertainment.

Undoubtedly, it is Vidya’s one of the finest outings in which she portrays the role of Reshma aka Silk, obviously, 'inspired' by the real life story of Silk Smitha.

Here’s a quick synopsis to her tragic tale:

Reshma is a non-conformist who leaves home to become a star in the big bad world of Tollywood. She has no qualms about her sexuality and knows that everything comes at a price.

After series of rejections, she finally lands up in a solo-dance number but critically acclaimed director Abraham (Emraan hashmi) robs her off that big-ticket to silver screen. Heartbroken, she is ready to move back to her sleepy village, when the producer (Rajesh Sharma) includes her risqué jig again to pep up the tepid collections and sets box-office on fire.

The world now wakes up to Silk and no film is complete without her ‘dirty’ antics. Be her childhood crush and now aging superstar Suryakant (Naseeruddin Shah) or millions of frontbenchers no can keep their eyes, minds or hands off Silk.

But as they say, success without honour is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good. Silk learns this bitter truth the hard way.

Though people are lapping her every act yet she is still their dirty secret, hidden somewhere in their closets or dark bedrooms not deemed worthy of their company. She chooses not to pay attention but reality comes to bite her at last when her own mother spurns her and slams the door on her face. And so does rest of the world, finally.

Series of failures in her love/lust affairs leaves her bitter and she smashes all the pretence of shame and decency. Her dream project and triple-role extravaganza turns out to be a flameout and she sinks further into the abyss of depression.

The two hardest things to handle in life are failure and success and Silk stands miserable at both. Ironically, Abraham - the man who hated her the most, is now the only solace in her troubled life. But it’s too late to resuscitate her decrepit soul...

With ‘The Dirty Picture’ director, Milan Luthria has put his hand in the dirtiest pit of the Indian cinema and excavated a gem in the form of Vidya Balan. You can’t help but appreciate the effort she puts in to make her Silk look authentic.

In an age where majority of leading ladies won’t dare to look overweight, Vidya carries her ample love-handles with aplomb.

The Austrian International Sex School in Vienna offers 'hands on' lessons in seduction for 1,400 pounds a term. The 'headmistress' says anyone over the age of 16 can enrol at 'the world's first college of applied sexuality'.

Students of the course are expected to stay in a co-ed dormitory block where they're expected to practice their 'homework'. By the end of their course, they are awarded a qualification.

The school head said: "Our core education is not theoretical, but very practical. The emphasis is on how to be a better lover.

Vidya Balan analyses what changed the definition of eroticism in a film actress over the years...

It is amazing to see the kind of journey that the portrayal of sensuality in women in Bollywood has taken. Till the 80s, men had no access to titillation except perhaps in magazines or desi detective novels, which were actually suggestive.

Then in the 80s, the video revolution happened and people could watch whatever they wanted within the confines of their homes; all sorts of fantasies were being catered to. Porn was available at the click of a button.

So it became a huge challenge for filmmakers to drag this particular set of audience out of the house to watch their films.

So it is interesting to see how the films of those days introduced this sexy woman who was disqualified to be a heroine, because the filmmakers were not yet comfortable with the sensuality of a 'good' woman.

Since they had to include the titillation factor, the vamp was introduced.

And then by and by, they stopped pretending and these women were purely introduced as sex objects. They were after all competing with international porn, which was easily available to any man. So in came this dancing girl who was skimpily clad and who used lewd gestures.

Some of the scenes that these films, especially the south Indian ones had, were so suggestive that it sometimes gets shocking. Like this scene I saw of Silk Smitha trying to dance with the hero's leg placed on her crotch. She is balancing herself on her hands and legs and moving off the floor. It is incredible.

And then there is this scene where she has to seduce a horse! So, there were many kinky scenes but they couldn't go the whole hog.

Makers started getting more and more creative and every film started including one such kinky song, hoping to get the audience into the theatre, at least for the sake of that song.

I think this piqued the interest of every man...I am surprised that many of my so-called polished male friends, who look down on Bollywood, have all watched movies like Kanti Shah ke angoor.

I think it was only in the 90s that heroines were allowed to be sexy. Suddenly it was okay to desire the heroine and not look at her just as someone who can be taken home to meet parents.

Songs like Dhak Dhak, Chholi ke peeche, Kaate nahi katthe, etc started being introduced. If you see Kaate nahi katthe, it is almost like Shridevi is making love to the camera, but hats off to her and Saroj Khan, that not for one moment it looked sleazy.

Actresses got comfortable with sensuality and I think that was a good sign. Now of course, we have come a long way.

She plays an aging disfigured sex worker with a 12-year-old child. There are plans to tie-up the film with the work that she does with UNESCO for women and children.

The actress will also be spending time with sex workers in Mumbai.

Manisha is leaving no stones unturned to make this her comeback film. She is all set to leave behind her life as a housewife in Nepal for this. She would be spending nearly two months in India, travelling to Mumbai and other parts to promote the film.

Says a source, "At the moment Manisha is making a very sincere effort to make her marriage work. But Do Paise Ki Dhoop... is a very important film for her. Besides the film's director Deepti Naval is the actress' best friend."

Sources suggest that the success of this arthouse film will decide the future course of her career.

Adds the source, "This is her do-or-die bid to regain lost glory. Both director Deepti Naval and Manisha are aiming for a National Award through this film."

Says the source, "If Do Paise Ki Dhoop... works for her, then she'd consider a serious shift to Mumbai. For now she will give the promotion her entire concentration, although her husband is apparently dead-set against her return to Mumbai."

Deepti Naval confirms, "She has rightly decided to give the film the time it deserves, away from her personal commitments."

Manisha confirmed she would spend significant time on her film. "I am in a meditation course. I can't talk until December 22. But yes, I'll be flying in and out of Mumbai, as I need to be in Nepal too, " the actress messaged.

Spears will perform at the Monument to the Revolution on Sunday, kicking of Christmas festivities in the populous city, Ebrard said.

In late August 2009 some 11,600 volunteers set a Guinness world record by dancing the Michael Jackson song "Thriller" in unison at the Monument to the Revolution.

Mexico City festivities include a giant Christmas tree; an ice rink at the Zocalo, the main city square; and artificial snow during a parade.

The so-called "Princess of Pop" will also perform at concerts in the western city of Guadalajara on Friday, in Mexico City on Saturday, and in the northern city of Monterrey the following Tuesday. (AFP)

NEW YORK: What do Britain's Pippa Middleton and the Kardashian family have in common?

They are all among the 10 most fascinating people of 2011, according to veteran journalist Barbara Walters.

Middleton, 28, younger sister of Prince William's new wife Kate, was named on Wednesday along with British reality TV guru Simon Cowell, singer Katy Perry and businessman Donald Trump as making the list in Walter's annual ABC TV special.

Walters will announce the number one most fascinating person of 2011 when the 90-minute show "Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2011" airs on December 14.

Other celebrities making up the top 10 most prominent names in entertainment, sport and pop culture include baseball star Derek Jeter, and "Modern Family" actors Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson who play a gay couple on the Emmy-winning TV comedy.

Middleton found unexpected fame during the British royal wedding in April when she wore a figure-hugging white dress as maid of honor to her sister Kate. She has been a constant fixture in U.S. and British celebrity media ever since.

Socialite sisters Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian and their mother Kris -- the biggest reality TV stars in the United States -- found new fame in 2011 when Kim held a lavish summer TV wedding after a whirlwind romance that ended in her filing for divorce just 72 days later. (Reuters)

The reason why the 'Twilight' series captured our imagination a few years ago was the originality of its idea and execution. Watching the penultimate film in the series, you will be stuck with a series of dejà vus.

You won't have to rake your head hard to figure out where you had seen bits and pieces of "The Breaking Dawn" for it literally takes inspiration from and shamelessly copies the execution of almost every single TV soap-opera and their Indian avatar - the saas-bahu sagas.

Isabella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) finally get married and Edward unwittingly gets Isabella pregnant. As the fetus grows rapidly, it threatens Bella's life. But she is unwilling to abort the baby despite the urging of everyone around.

Afraid of the half-human, half-vampire baby growing inside Bella, the wolves plan to kill her even as the Cullen family and Jacob (Taylor Lautner), fight to save her.

The only originality the film hold is in its combination of cliches of multiple genres. Thus you have an exotic woman in possession of an ancient wisdom (from the monster movie genre) calling Edward a monster.

You have once again a jealous friend in Jacob who mouths cheesy lines (teenage romance genre) and you have a understanding and protective family speaking dialogues straight from soaps (family drama genre)...the list goes on.

It even begins with 'the' teenage cinematic marriage sequence of the millennium.

As the jealous best fried Jacob runs off in anger, the couple is married in a dream marriage that even Prince Charles and Diana could not have dreamt of. This and the honeymoon is slow and long, but has enough oomph for girls with romance in their eyes to lap up.

There is no point commenting on the acting department which actually relies on the inability of its actors to act, and their abilities to look either pale and white, expressionless or perennially angry.

"The Breaking Dawn" is good only for the die-hard fans of the franchisee, or teenage girls with fairy tale romance lighting up their eyes or fans of Mills and Boons. Others beware of a headache.

Vatican’s chief exorcist has claimed that practicing yoga and reading ‘Harry Potter’ brings evil. Father Gabriel Amorth, who has carried out more than 70,000 exorcisms in the past 25 years after being appointed by the late Pope John Paul II, surprised delegates at a conference by revealing his dislike for yoga and ‘Harry Potter’.

“Practising yoga brings evil as does reading Harry Potter. They may both seem innocuous but they both deal with magic and that leads to evil,” the Daily Mail quoted him as saying.

“Yoga is the Devil’s work. You thing you are doing it for stretching your mind and body but it leads to Hinduism. All these oriental religions are based on the false belief of reincarnation,” he said.

Speaking on the subject of People And Religion at a fringe event at the Umbria Film Festival in Terni, Father Amorth spoke of his distaste for JK Rowling’s young wizard.

“People think it is an innocuous book for children but it’s about magic and that leads to evil. In Harry Potter the Devil is at work in a cunning and crafty way, he is using his extraordinary powers of magic and evil,” he said.

“Satan is always hidden and the thing he desires more than anything is for people to believe he does not exist. He studies each and everyone of us and our tendencies towards good and evil and then he tempts us.

“My advice to young people would be to watch out for nightclubs because the path is always the same: alcohol, sex, drugs and Satanic sects,” he added.

This is not the first time that the 85-year-old has raised eyebrows with his forthright views, as last year he had said that the ongoing child sex scandals rocking the Catholic Church were evidence that “the Devil was at work in the Vatican”.

Heidi Klum has replaced Cameron Diaz as the most dangerous celebrity to search for on the Web, according to Internet security company McAfee. For the fifth year in a row, McAfee researched popular culture’s most famous people to reveal the riskiest celebrity athletes, musicians, politicians, comedians and Hollywood stars on the Web. The McAfee Most Dangerous Celebrities™ study found movie stars and models top the “most dangerous” list this year while singers and sports stars are among the safest.

Cybercriminals often use the names of popular celebrities to lure people to sites that are actually laden with malicious software. Anyone looking for the latest videos or pictures could end up with a malware-ridden computer instead of just trendy content.

Fans searching for “Heidi Klum” or “Heidi Klum and downloads,” “Heidi Klum and ‘free’ downloads,” “Heidi Klum and photos” and “Heidi Klum and videos” are at risk of running into online threats designed to steal personal information. Clicking on these risky sites and downloading files like photos, videos or screensavers exposes surfers or consumers to the risk of downloading the viruses and malware.

McAfee research found that searching for the latest Heidi Klum pictures and downloads yields more than a 9% chance of landing on a website that has tested positive for online threats, such as spyware, adware, spam, phishing, viruses and other malware.

The study uses McAfee SiteAdvisor software that provides ratings that indicate which sites are risky to search for celebrity names on the Web and calculate an overall risk percentage. The top 10 celebrities from this year’s study with the highest percentages of risk are:

1. Heidi Klum – Klum, the former Victoria’s Secret model and current producer of “Project Runway” moved up from #10 on last year’s list to #1 today. Searching for Klum results in nearly a one in ten chance of landing on a risky site.

2. Cameron Diaz – 2010’s Most Dangerous Celebrity fell to 2nd place, with searches resulting in slightly fewer risky sites this year. She has most recently been in the spotlight with her 2011 movies “Bad Teacher” and “The Green Hornet.”

3. Piers Morgan – A new addition to the top 10 list, Morgan also the most dangerous male celebrity. He is best known as the host of “Piers Morgan Tonight,” taking over for Larry King, a winner of the “Celebrity Apprentice,” and one of the judges on “America’s Got Talent.”

4. Jessica Biel – 2009’s Most Dangerous Celebrity fell one more spot this year with searches resulting in fewer risky sites. Biel continues to be in the spotlight with her on-again, off-again relationship with Justin Timberlake, and appeared in “The A-Team” in June 2010.

5. Katherine Heigl – The former “Grey’s Anatomy” star moved into the top 10 for the first time this year. Heigl has appeared in recent movies such as “Killers” and “Life as We Know It.”

6. Mila Kunis – The former star of “That 70s Show” makes her first showing in the top 10 list, bolstered by starring in movies such as “Black Swan” and “Friends with Benefits.”

7. Anna Paquin – This “True Blood” star is as dangerous on the Web as she is on the screen. She moved up from #10 last year to #7 this year.

8. Adriana Lima – Searching for downloads of this Brazilian beauty can direct users to red-ranked sites. Lima is best known for being a Victoria’s Secret Angel since 2000. Searching for Lima became slightly safer, moving her from #6 last year, to #8 this year.

9. Scarlett Johansson – The former child star has gotten more dangerous as she’s grown up. Named in 2010, as “Babe of The Year” by GQ Magazine, Johansson most recently appeared in “Iron Man 2.”

10. Emma Stone, Brad Pitt and Rachel McAdams – Pitt has been a mainstay of this list, appearing in the top 10 for the past four years. Stone and McAdams are new to the top ten. Stone, the star of last year’s “Easy A” has appeared in “The Help” and “Crazy Stupid Love” this year. McAdams has most recently appeared in “Morning Glory” and “Midnight in Paris.”

Lady Gaga says her new perfume may have been based on blood and semen, but it smells like an 'expensive hooker'.

Coty Beauty, which is the firm behind the fragrance, has not yet confirmed the details behind the name of the pop queen's creation.

But given Gaga's fondness for the Monster association as her fans are called Little Monsters, and has given herself the moniker Mother Monster, as well as tattooed the name on her arm, so the name seems a likely one.

The 25-year-old singer signed the license in September 2010, and allegedly requested that the scent smell of "blood and semen."

The 'Born This Way' hitmaker's request was for the fragrance to be based on the molecular structure of the bodily fluids, not the actual aromas themselves.

"You get the after-feeling of sex from the semen and the blood is primal," the Daily Mail quoted Gaga as saying.

The blood element is based on the molecular make-up of the star's own blood.

"It was taken out of my own blood sample so it's a sense of having me on your skin," she said.

"I wanted to extract sort of the feeling and sense of blood and semen from molecular structures, so that's where [the rumours] came from.

Kate Middleton's teeth have been deliberately made "not too perfect" which helped her in giving a "natural, healthy smile, but not an artificial one", a French dentist has claimed.

Didier Fillion uses a system of "micro-rotations" and gentle whitening to make teeth look spectacular. The process involves fitting invisible braces to the back of teeth to twist them very slightly until the desired look is achieved, The Sun reported.

A state-of-the-art computer system produces a virtual 3D model of what a patient's teeth will look like when they're finished.

A fellow dentist Bernard Touati claimed that the Duchess Of Cambridge has used Fillion's services.

"You know why they look good? Because they are not absolutely aligned. "He (Fillion) did some little micro-rotations on Kate Middleton to produce something which is natural. That is what we like - a natural, healthy smile, but not artificial," Touati was quoted as saying.

David Winkler, of the British Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry, said the trick was to aim for "harmonious asymmetry".

Kangna Ranaut, who is all set to play a mutant in the Krrish sequel, has to lose five kilos to get into her costume. We give you a sneak peak of what her character will look like in the visual-effects laden superhero flick.

It has been learnt that Kangna's designer Gavin Miguel has sourced a plastic-like material from the US for her character's costume.

"One of the teams sourced to make the outfit for her in Krissh also stitches Lady Gaga's costumes, " reveals our source.

Giving further details about her costume, the source says, "Considering the kind of material it's made from, Kangna will have to apply special oil on herself to be able to wear it."

Perhaps she should take some tips from SRK on staying in such costumes for long hours, as he did for RA.One.

Our source adds that director Rakesh Roshan wants to make sure people forget Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider when Kangna makes her entry in the movie. Kangna's character is a mutant said to be inspired by Mystique from the X Men series.

When contacted, Gavin maintained that they're still in the process of finalising the costume, so that it looks "more like a second skin."

He asserts, "Since it's a completely body-hugging costume, we require a fabric that stretches and fits perfectly. Hence a lubricant-based oil has to be applied on the body before getting into it. We're still in the testing stages because the costume should not be suffocating."

The designer says that they're also figuring out a way to make the actress avoid wearing the costume all day. "We're trying to work out a design that is easy for her to get into and get out of, " he points out.

The designer and his team have a month to finalise the costume as Kangna still has a month before she starts shooting for the film. "So far, they're happy with the way the look is coming up. Since it's a challenging assignment, I hope it becomes an iconic look in Bollywood, " Gavin signs off.

Malaika Arora Khan tells MiD DAY about her next item song and more in an exclusive during her touch-and-go visit to town yesterday

Your next item number is Anarkali Chali Disco for Sajid Khan's Housefull 2.I have collaborated with Farah Khan yet again. I dance with Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Ritesh Deshmukh, Shreyas Talpade, Mithun Da and Boman Irani in the song.

It was great fun as this is not the first time I'm working in this environment, which is a Sajid Khan film. I have been a part of all his films.

I truly believe Farah, who has choreographed this number as well, is very talented and manages to do something different every time and bring out the best. So, I'm quite excited.

The success of Munni Badnam Hui can be partially attributed to its risque lyrics. What are the lyrics of Anarkali like?They're not risque. It's a completely different song. Munni was very tongue-in cheek and had a North Indian feel to it. The reason I decided to do it is because it's very different from Munni. It's a hardcore disco song. I'm wearing club wear. We have finished shooting it in Mumbai. The film releases in May.

What's keeping you busy right now?Right now what's keeping me really busy is pre production of Dabangg 2. We are in the process of finalising everything because we start early next year. What I am really enjoying is that I'm very hands on as a producer this time. The first time, I was merely a rubber stamp.

Chitrangada Singh recently said that her she idolises you.Oh my god. I think that's really sweet. I know her and she's absolutely fantastic, beautiful and talented. And it's great to see mommies today are giving young girls a run for their money.

It's flattering to hear someone admires you and great to see women post marriage and babies, out there, looking better than ever and not letting themselves go after marriage and children. That, for me, is more exciting.

Designer Sanchita recently said in a fashion magazine that everything about you is flawless except that you don't experiment too much with your hair.(laughs) I shall definitely take that into consideration. I think I am very straight jacket when it comes to my hair and make up. I don't experiment too much with that. I like to reinvent myself every now and then though.

Your New Year's Eve performance last year was the talk of the nation. Where are you performing this year?This time I'm not so sure. I haven't quite decided whether I'll be in Mumbai or travelling with my family.

According to your D.O.B in a website, you will be 40 in the next two years. How are you so ageless?Not really. You are ageing me way before my time. They have my birth date and year wrong. I have another five years to go. As for being ageless, the secret is yoga. If you're happy on the inside, you're happy on the outside.

NEW YORK: Vampires feasted at the Thanksgiving weekend box office, bringing the newest "Twilight" movie its second win in a row, over a strong comeback for "The Muppets" and other family fare that filled theaters.

"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 1" delivered an estimated $113.5 million around the globe from Friday through Sunday. The film ranked No. 1 for the second straight week at U.S. and Canadian theaters, where ticket sales hit $42 million for three days and $62.3 million over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

The film's total box-office take since its release reached $489.3 million globally.

"Breaking Dawn: Part 1" is the fourth movie in the "Twilight" series, one of Hollywood's most lucrative franchises. The movies are based on best-selling novels by Stephenie Meyer about a human-vampire-werewolf love triangle, a story that has generated legions of die-hard female fans.

For the latest movie, "word of mouth is good. (Fans) are supporting the film," said Richie Fay, president of domestic distribution for independent studio Summit Entertainment, which backed the film.

In second place, audiences welcomed the Muppets back to theaters for the first time in 12 years.

New Disney movie "The Muppets," starring Jason Segel and Amy Adams alongside Kermit, Miss Piggy and their puppet friends, took in a strong $29.5 million at North American (U.S. and Canadian) theaters in three days. The five-day holiday weekend haul reached $42 million domestically. Two international markets added $1.6 million.

Disney bought the rights to the Muppets in 2004, and the media, entertainment and consumer-products giant is eager to interest a new generation in the characters.

"It's hard to have anyone argue we didn't bring them back," said Dave Hollis, Disney's executive vice president for motion picture sales and distribution. The movie's performance "exceeded expectations," he said.

The Muppets starred on a weekly television show in the 1970s and early 1980s plus a series of films, the last being 1999's "Muppets from Space."

Critics loved the new Muppets movie, with 98 percent giving it a favorable review, according to aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences awarded an A rating on average, according to exit-polling firm CinemaScore. The movie cost about $45 million to produce.

FAMILY FILMS COMPETE

In third place for the weekend, dancing penguin sequel "Happy Feet Two" earned $13.4 million over three days domestically during its second weekend in theaters and $18.4 million through five days.

Rounding out the top five were two other new family movies that critics adored.

Animated 3D movie "Arthur Christmas," which cost about $98 million to produce, pulled in $12.7 million at domestic theaters over three days and $17 million in five days to finish in fourth place. The movie explains how Santa delivers presents around the world in one night and has earned $22.3 million overseas since opening two weeks ago.

Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution for Sony Pictures, said the film "opened about where we hoped it would," adding that he expected the Christmas theme would appeal throughout the holiday season.

"Hugo," a 3D family movie, ended the weekend in fifth place with $11.4 million over three days and $15.4 million over five days. The movie centers on an orphan living in a Paris train station in the 1930s.

The film exceeded studio forecasts for its release in about 1,300 locations, far fewer than the 3,000-plus for the other widely released films, said Don Harris, president of domestic distribution for Paramount.

In a small number of theaters, "My Week with Marilyn," starring Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe, opened with $1.8 million from 244 screens from Friday through Sunday. Critics have praised Williams' performance in the Weinstein Co. film and mentioned her as an Academy Award contender for the role.

Walt Disney Co released "The Muppets." Privately held Summit Entertainment released "Breaking Dawn: Part 1." "Arthur Christmas" was distributed by Sony, and "Hugo" was released by Paramount, a unit of Viacom Inc. Time Warner unit Warner Bros. distributed "Happy Feet Two." (Reuters)

At the outset, Desi Boyz (that z in the title made me cringe even before watching the film) dealing with two hard working fellas turning gigolos because of recession, might have held some promise of a sensitive story line.

But Rohit Dhawan's movie manages to take it to a level which veers between the utterly ridiculous to plain unbelievable.

Two college friends, Jerry Patel (Akshay) and Nick (John) decide to take up the profession of being male escorts when they are laid off due to recession. They have a veteran gigolo, Sanjay Dutt to mentor them.

The movie makes this otherwise shady profession look so glorious, that don't be surprised if some impressionable youths now aspire to be male escorts.

All Jerry and Nick have to do is dance at bachelorette parties amidst semi nude women and still emerge being the wonderful twosome just gone astray for a bit.

While the first half has some fleetingly funny moments, in the second half the movie collapses altogether.

At one point it seemed like no one, not the script writer, not the director and definitely not the actors had even an inkling of what was going on.

And to top it all, a few 'poignant' issues were casually thrown in, like Akshay Kumar informing how great India is, to a clueless firang professor etc..

No even those yawn inducing seen it before moments could help the movie qualify to be even called decent. Sorry did I use the word decent?

Shouldn't have with this film. Akshay Kumar is pretty good, However, can't say the same about the rest of the cast, John, Deepika and Chitrangada. Don't really blame them.

Freida Pinto, I'm afraid, is turning into a bit of a running joke within the English film reviewing community, given her incredible luck of working with acclaimed Hollywood filmmakers and then delivering extremely forgettable performances.

In Singh's Immortals, she gets the longest screen-time of her career as Phaedron, the virgin oracle who can predict the future as long as she remains 'undefiled' by man.

Her best moment in the film, however, is completely unintentional. As she tends to the wounded peasant warrior Theseus (Cavill), it's clear that a sex scene is in the offing.

Suddenly, within the blink of an eye, Pinto is underneath Cavill and talking about how she wants to be 'defiled' by him. Cut.

Emotions, dialogue and logic go out the window, and a number of us at the press screening collapsed into a fit of giggles at this jarring transition. No credit to Pinto; full credit to the Indian Censor Board and its ridiculous policies.

Singh, known for making visually stunning films like The Cell (2000) and The Fall (2006), helms this gorgeous looking disappointment (from the makers of 300, say the ads) which is let down by a wafer-thin storyline, poor characterisation and inconsistent acting.

Set in ancient Greece, it revolves around the evil King Hyperion (Rourke, one of the few actors who can make sadism look awesome) and his search for the legendary Epirus bow, with which he plans to destroy all of humanity.

This bow is the only weapon that can release the Titans, a mythical race of immortal beings that has been imprisoned by the Gods. Theseus, who has been unknowingly trained by the god king Zeus in mortal form (Hurt), is the chosen one to save humanity.

There is a stunning sequence towards the end, where the Gods clash against the Titans, juxtaposed against a fierce hand-battle between Theseus and Hyperion.

Singh's visual sensibilities come out all guns blazing here as body after body is poetically slashed open, and it is glorious to behold. After more than an hour of underwhelming battle scenes that aren't even a patch on 300, this scene is an admirable attempt at redemption.

Except it can't, especially when it's that late into the movie and your hero is no King Leonidas. Cavill tries hard, but he has neither the screen presence of Gerard Butler, nor a line of memorable dialogue to deliver. The other actors range from bad (Pinto, Evans as young Zeus) to serviceable (Dorff as the thief Stavros). Rourke delivers the only really enjoyable performance here.

Much of the movie is uninteresting, with a few set pieces proving to be of brief interest. Immortals looks gorgeous for the most part (barring a couple of sequences where the CGI looks less-than-impressive), but what it lacks is cohesiveness and style. Singh may reputedly be a visual genius, but he's no Zack Snyder.

After becoming a rage with item number "Sheila ki jawaani", Katrina Kaif is set to gyrate to "Chikni chameli" in Karan Johar's remake of his father's 1990 critically acclaimed "Agneepath".

"Katrina Kaif is doing a full on item song in AGNEEPATH....its a total swinging number called CHIKNI CHAMELI....we shoot it in a week, " Karan posted on his Twitter page Tuesday.

The British-born actress danced to "Sheila ki jawaani" in Farah Khan's "Tees Maar Khan". But she was also the lead actress of the film. In "Agneepath", Katrina will just be seen in the song "Chikni chameli".

The original Amitabh Bachchan-starrer "Agneepath" featured Archana Puran Singh in item number "Alibaba".

The new "Agneepath" is being directed by debutant Karan Malhotra. Releasing Jan 26 next year, it will see Sanjay Dutt in the villain's role.

Jim Morrison once said, 'Film spectators are quiet vampires'... and in case you are planning to catch his self-confessed disciple Janardan ‘Rockstar’ Jakhar (Ranbir Kapoor) in action this weekend, you are in for a feast.

In Imtiaz Ali’s most complex project till date, Ranbir has delivered a performance which hardly any of his competition can hope to emulate. From being a downtown North Dilli boy JJ to an angry and bitter Jordan, he makes up for all the holes you can pick in Imtiaz Ali’s plot with his brilliant histrionics.

Yup, Ali’s Rockstar lacks depth... just like its protagonist Janardan’s life. With a hairdo and clothes that resemble the fashion of the early 1970s, Janardan, or JJ as he calls himself, is constantly trying to ape rockstar Jim Morrison and is constantly seeking a formula to become one.

His confidants, college mates and college canteen owner Kattara Bhai tell him that to be a rockstar one needs to experience life altering love, heartbreak and self discovery. And his mind ticks till he spots Heer (Nargis Fakhri).

Heer is the diva of the college, poised and polished very lady like. Their union seems unfeasible. After a few scenes, we learn that she is to be married off within 20 days and wants to experience all that is forbidden.

The duo makes a list and bond over soft-porn cinema in a seedy Delhi theatre and country liquor but without emotions for each other. In due course, JJ is christened Jordan, which seems to be an apt name for a rockstar.

As the mystery unfolds over layers of flashbacks, it takes the story to a designated plateau and halts.

At stages, you feel you are watching a documentary, full of montages of memories lined up over good music. Be it Sufi music or the shehnai-guitar jugalbandi, A.R. Rahman's music touches your heart.

Coming from a director who has given wonderful hits like "Jab We Met" and "Love Aaj Kal", "Rockstar" fails to match the hype. It's evident that there is something amiss with the characterisation of this love story.

During the entire transition it is not revealed how Jordan becomes a symbol of rage nor does it reveal the 'junoon' of Nargis' character. But even Imtiaz Ali's non-linear and jerky story telling can’t eclipse the rise of a Rockstar.

With some beautiful wide angle shots, the film captures scenic Kashmir, Prague and Delhi in a way that has not been seen in the recent past.

The editing too is crisp but the last half hour is agonisingly similar to Shahid Kapoor's "Mausam". It just goes on and on.

The dialogues are refreshingly rustic and funny. An extra star in the rating for Ranbir's performance. He along with AR Rahman’s stellar music makes ‘Rockstar’ a great one-time watch.

Aishwarya who is married to Abhishek Bachchan is expecting her first child this week. According to reports, Aishwarya has been visiting the hospital for regular checkups and Abhishek told an Indian news paper that all he wants is a healthy child.